Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-20
FOR THE FARMER.
Tuberculosis Considered With Reference
to Man and Beast-Butter and
OIeomargarine.
Fruits For the Observation-Disclosures ant
Marking Grain Bags-Other
Items of Interest.
TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.

tuberculosis in cattle is the same
disease as consumption in men.
Neither, says writer in the New En-
durable, though quack doctors may
sometimes offer remedies to cure con-
sumption. 1t is not produced by lung
worms. The word tuberculosis is de-
rived from Latin word meaning
small tuber. Tubercles are of various
size, from that of millet seed to that
of large grapes, and sometimes an
aggregation of tubercles form mass
weighing pound or more. They are
all too large to be found in milk or
butter. Chemical analysis is unneces-
sary for determining the presence of
the disease; it is usually quite apparent
to the naked eye, but doubtful cases
may need the microscope to determine
their true nature. Animals sometimes
fatten well when affected by this dis
ease in its earlier stages, but emacia-
ton is one of the common symptoms.
tuberculosis is disease that is not
confined to the lungs, though it more
commonly affects those organs. 1t
may locate itself in almost any organ
or part of the body. 1t undoubtedly
is frequent cause of abortion and of
barrenness when the generative organs
are the seat of the disease. Cows that
appear to be almost constantly in heat
are often affected with this disease.
It is transmissibIe from parent to off
spring by heredity and from either
male or female parent, but infected
parents may produce offspring that
will not have the disease, though q
predisposition to the disease is greatly
Increased by having diseased parents.
The disease is far more common in
adults than in the young of animals.
1t prevails more in warm than in cold
countries, and in hot than iii cold
stables, which accounts in part for its
greater prevalence in herds of fancy
cattle kept in tight, warm barns.
1t is far more common in districts
where the stock is chiefly purchased
than where it is raised. The buyer is
more or less at the mercy of the seller,
for the latter is the first to discover
indications of decline in condition or
health, and the temptation to unload
upon another is weakness not wholly
confined to horse jockies or dealers in
stocks.
The disease is most dangerous to
mankind when badly diseased meat OF
milk is eaten without thorough cook
ing. The disease is most contagious
when the tubercles are breaking down;
that is, when they are ripe, and the
germs are being thrown off from the
body in the breath or in the milk.
There is no doubt whatever that
tuberculosis in cattle is increasing as
our cattle are better housed and pro
tected. Ones chances of being killed
tubercular animals are probably small
hut no one wants to take that small
chance. There should be greater pro-
lection to the public, and there viii be
when the people are sufficiently in
formed in the matter. Every person
who buys milk or beef has a right to
know that the animals producing said
food are in good health and not dan
gerouS to the community. Cores
pondents who have facts to communi.
cate bearing on this important ques-
ton cannot be too prompt in making
such facts public property through the
medium of the newspaper We shall
be glad to give all hearing on the
subject